Nine-year-old Francesca Fairhurst entered the Chris Evans Radio 2 500 Words 2014 competition earlier this year and recently learned that her story, The Devil’s Voice, has made the shortlist.

Out of 120,000 entries, only 50 made it through.

Francesca said: “I was really, really excited when I found out, I was running around the house shouting.”

On May 9, Francesca’s name, along with the other Top 50 writers, was read out on the Chris Evans Breakfast Show by Chris Evans and head judge Richard Hammond.

As one of the Top 25 in her age category, Francesca has won an overnight stay in a hotel near Hay-on-Wye and has been invited to be in the audience for a special Radio 2 Breakfast Show this Friday, May 30.

The show will be broadcast live from the Hay Festival, where Chris Evans and a host of celebrity guests will reveal the medal winners.

Proud mum Suzie said: “We are all very excited and thrilled for Francesca, the nine-year-old who has wanted to be an author for years.”